Deployment of automated enumeration equipment for routine analyses

The enumeration analysis is carried out on a sample of 25,000 seeds to detect the possible presence of seeds of other undesirable plants.

Until now, these long and complex analyses were carried out manually by analysts. In May 2023, the Physical Analysis laboratory acquired an automated system based on optical sorting coupled with artificial intelligence. The aim is to pre-sort samples and reduce the number of seeds that have to be analysed manually by staff.

Each programme developed for a particular species involves training the artificial intelligence, checking performance and validating the use of the robot before it is used routinely.

Since July 2024, several programmes have been routinely deployed on different species: limited counts on Lotus corniculatus, Medicago sativa, Cichorium spp., Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens and Brassica napus. Regular duplicate tests have been set up to monitor the machine’s performance. At the same time, developments are continuing on other species identified as priorities for the laboratory.